Substation signaling apparatus



H. 0. HIGH. SUBSTATION 'SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION 111.111) DEC. 14, 1911.

1,1 05,842. Patented g- 4, 191 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

m HARRY O. RUGH, F SAITDWICH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HAIL SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SUBSTATION SIGNALING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY O. RUGH, a

citizen ofthe United States, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Substation Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,

stations.

My invention finds, its greatest usefulness in connection with step-by-step signaling systems, although it is not so limited."

My invention is designed to provide for a substation signal receiving device, certain slow acting means which in combination with the other elements of the device control the operation of the substation signal.

One form of my device contemplates the provision of suitable electromagneticmeans to control a local signal circuit and the addition to the movable member of the electromagnetic means of a suitable slow acting element in the form of a pneumatically controlled device toretard the operation of the circuit controlling element under the control of said electromagnetic means.

I will describe my invention more in' detail by reference to the accompanying drawing, illustrating one form thereof, in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a signaling system arranged in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detail view of my improved delaying means.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, I show a central station A and two substations B and C, all united by means of a line circuit comprising the conductors 1 and 2. The signal receiving device at the substation is associated by means of conductors 3 and 4 with the line circuit 1 and 2 and comprises a step-by-step element 5 carrying a circuit controlling element 6, which step-bystep element is normally held by means of a spring 7 against a stop 8. The arm 6 1s Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 14, 1811.

the agency of the key 11.

relay 12, slow acting by virtue of a copper impulses.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Serial No. 665,738.

moved the required distance, thereby to effectcertain circuit changes as will presently appear.

At the central station I illustrate a battery 10 from which impulses may be transmitted over the line conductors 1 and 2 through A slow acting shell 13 has an armature 14 carryin a pawl 15. Whenever the key 11 is sen ing impulses the armature 14 is attracted and remains attracted until the cessation of the This is dueto the fact that the magnet 12 is slow acting and while it attracts its armature with the first impulse it doesnct release its armature as the interval between succeeding impulses of a call is not sufficient to permit the armature 14 to be released, the armature 14 thus remaining attracted until the circuit through the key 11 is broken and-remains broken. A magnet 16 serially associated with the magnet 12 controls an armature 17 carrying a pawl 18 and this magnet 16 actuates its armature 17 in accordance with eachimpulse. Thus the first impulse ocrmits both pawls 18 and 15 to be placed in connection 'with the step-bystep element 5, the pawl 15 acting as a holding pawl and the element 5 moves in response to impulses received in accordance with the movements of the armature 17 When the step-by-step element 5 has been moved the required distance in order that the arm 6 engages the spring 9, then a circuit is established through the magnet 19 whichthereupon attracts its armature 20.

The armature 20 carries a flexiblespring 21 adapted to engage a contact 22. The contact 22 is associated with a local signal 23, the other terminal of said local signal being connected by means of the conductor 24. with the arm 6. Whenever the arm 20 is attracted the element 21 does'not immediately engage the contact 22 because this element 21 being flexible may bend and the element 21 is prevented from moving immediately in response to the movement of the armature 20 through the agency of a dash pot 25, which dashpot only permits the elements 21 and 22 to engage after the magnet 19 has been energized a sufiicient length of time. The time between succeeding impulses, as when the arm 6 only passes the contact 9 without stopping there, is not sufficient to permit the dash pot 25 to release the spring 21 and thus contact is not made between the elements 21 and22under such conditions. Whenever a station is to be called, however, then the circuit through the key 11 is closed and remains closed for a certain period of time after the elements 6 and 9 of the particular station desired have contacted, thus to allow the-dash pot 25 to release the element 21 so that it may engage the contact 22 to thereby operate the local signal 23. This dash pct 25 is set forth more in detail in Fig. 2 and comprises a. cup shaped casing 26 having in its base a small bleedcr port 27 and having as a cover a flexible diaphragm 28 secured by means'of an airtight joint to the upper rim of the cup 26 by means of the annular collar 29 and the screws 30. A plunger 31' suitably controlled by the diaphragm 28 by means of the two plates 32 and 33 is pivotally associated at 34 with the spring 21.

Now when the armature 20 is attracted the air cannot enter the interior of the dash pot rapidly enough through the bleede'r port 27 to permit the diaphragm 28 to move vertically in response to the pull eX- crted by the'armature 20, but this movement of the diaphragm and the consequent movement of the element 21 takes place gradually so that contact between elements 21 and 22. is established only after a certain time interval. In this way an effective slow acting element is provided to control the final circuit closure ofthe substation signal circuit after the other elements of the signal receiving device have been placed in their properv signal receiving condition. The cirvcuit through the magnets 12 and 16 may be traced as follows: line conductor 2, conductor l, magnet 16, conductor 34, magnet j 12 and conductor 3 to the line conductor 1.

The circuit through the magnet 19 may be traced; from line conductor 1, conductor 3, conductor 3'5, magnet 19, element 9, arm 6, conductor 36, armature 17, contact 37, conductor 38, conductor 4, to the line' Wire 2. The circuit through the signal 23 may be traced from line conductor 1, conductor 35, armature 20, contact spring 21., contact 22, signal 23, conductor 24, arm 6, conductor 36, armature 17, contact 37, conductor 38,

conductor 4, to the line conductor 2.

I have herein shown a specific form of ment, a stepping magnet therefor, holding means for 531d element, a magnet therefor, a slgnal circuit open 'at'two points, one-of which is closed by said stepping means,,an

electro-magnet and a circuit therefor adapt ed to be closed by said step-by-step element, means for sluggishly closing. the second point of the signal circuit, controlled by said magnet.

2; In a substation signal-receiving appa ratus, the combination of a step by' step element, a stepping magnet therefor, holding means for said element, a magnet therefor,

a signal circuit open at two'points, one of which is closed by said stepping means, an electromagnet, a circuit therefor adapted to be closed by said step-by-step element, and an armature for saidmagnet adapted to respond sluggishly to said magnet Whereby said signal circuit is closedonly after a notable length of time after the closing of said last circuit.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of December, A. 1)., 1911. v HARRY O. HUGH.)

Witnesses IIAZEL J ONES, O. M. WER IOH, 

